Wildkin Guardian Spirits
Introduction[edit]
Wildkin culture is defined by their choice of guardian spirit. While said guardian spirit will not explicitly visit or speak to each and every Wildkin, they do have rituals to commune with them if need be, and particularly magical Wildkin will often wake up from very vivid dreams of their guardian. It's through these dreams and occasional communions that their features develop, usually gaining ears and a tail but sometimes earning other traits as well- sharp teeth, claws, and similar are common.
It's rare for a young member to diverge from their parents' or their tribe's chosen path, but it isn't impossible, nor is it unheard-of. When it happens, preparations for a trek will often be made so the youngling can venture off to, if nothing else, inspect the tribe of their choosing to see if it's the right fit. In some areas, this decision is viewed as taboo and partakers are shunned. In others, it's welcomed with open arms, with the freedom viewed as an example of the aloof nature of the Wildkin race.
Each of the major Wildkin guardian spirits are listed here:
Major Guardian Spirits[edit]
The Great Direwolf[edit]
- Holds domain over canid (wolf, fox, etc.) Wildkin.
- Often represents pack-like loyalty.
- To complete one's ritual, they must hunt and kill a beast of terrifying stature.
The Golden Lion[edit]
- Holds domain over felid (lion, tiger, etc.) Wildkin.
- Often represents confidence and courage.
- To complete one's ritual, they must stalk elusive prey without being caught.
The Windswept Owl[edit]
- Holds domain over avian (eagle, hawk, etc.) Wildkin.
- Often represents wisdom and knowledge.
- To complete one's ritual, they must survive alone in the wilderness without aid.
The Unseen Rabbit[edit]
- Holds domain over rodent (rabbit, rat, etc.) Wildkin.
- Often represents fortuity and luck.
- To complete one's ritual, they must race a beast through the wilds and manage to escape.
The Towering Bear[edit]
- Holds domain over ursid (bears, primarily) Wildkin.
- Often represents stalwartness.
- To complete one's ritual, one must lift a tree free of its roots and split it down the center.
Mind that, while Wildkin do explicitly worship their guardian, many view the whole pantheon of guardians as their object of worship instead. It's very rare to find a member who outwardly despises the other tribes as a whole.
Minor Guardian Spirits[edit]
While there are five commonly known wildkin guardian spirits, there are many more smaller members of the pantheon. These spirits are not commonly known, but wildkin can still undergo their rituals. This document attempts to display all of the wildkin guardian spirits that are not commonly talked about, mammalian in form, and have enough information known about them to write about.
Most individuals who follow these spirits belong to a small tribe of similar individuals, or are an oddity within their tribe.
Mythos/List:
The White Wolf[edit]
Domain: Canid (similar to the Great Direwolf]]
Ritual: Slay a dominant predator before it finds it's own prey, with two or more senses restricted.
Symbolism: Independence, self-reliance and forging one's own identity
The Secretive Echidna[edit]
Domain: Monotremes (Platypus, Echidna)
Ritual: Aggravate a large predatory animal, then survive for one day alone while it hunts you without killing it.
Symbolism: Often represents survival through perseverance, and secrets
The Scaled Pangolin[edit]
Domain: Pangolins
Ritual: Heal someone from near death (injuries intentionally caused for this ritual will not work)
Symbolism: Often represents compassion and healing
The Fortified Armadillo[edit]
Domain: Armadillos
Ritual: Survive a significant amount of blunt force
Symbolism: Often represents defense and resilience
The Curious Wallaby[edit]
Domain: Macropods (Wallaby, Kangaroo, Quokka, etc.)
Ritual: Travel a significant distance through the wilderness by only jumping
Symbolism: Often represents exploration and discovery
The Haunting Bat[edit]
Domain: Chiropterids (Bat, Flying Fox)
Ritual: Only be active at nighttime for 8 days
Symbolism: Often represents confusion and darkness
The Protective Deer[edit]
Domain: Pecora (Deer, Giraffes, Antelopes, etc.)
Ritual: Guard a group of people in a dangerous predators territory without any help in the wilds for 3 days
Symbolism: Often represents herds, family, and guarding others
The Fearful Hedgehog[edit]
Domain: Erinaceids (Hedgehog, Moonrat)
Ritual: Build a large shelter in the wilderness without help made entirely out of sharpened sticks
Symbolism: Often represents fear and seeking shelter
The Mighty Elephant[edit]
Domain: Proboscids (Elephant)
Ritual: Survive a potentially fatal wound (If the wound was done to you for the ritual intentionally, it does not count)
Symbolism: Often represents hope and awe
Trivia[edit]
- There are of course more Guardian Spirits, this is just a sample
- Even most wildkin do not know about some of these